Of particular relevance to parole reform in this issue - Judith Brink's report on the NYS Prisoner Justice Conference:

"The NYS Prisoner Justice Conference was a success! We had a full house, and everyone was energized and willing to work hard to correct the wrongs that we all agreed exist.

I came away from the event with a stronger resolve than ever to answer the mandate of the Family Empowerment Day participants who joined to form the Coalition For Fair Criminal Justice Policies. They voted to work to move the Parole Board away from being able to deny parole based solely on the nature of the crime or criminal history. Out of the Coalition was born a Policy Committee charged with the task of changing the law that sets Parole Board policies. That has been done in the form of a proposal for amending Executive Law § 259-i. Now we need to begin the next stage, moving our proposal into reality as a law of New York State.

The proposed changes would ensure that no one ever again gets denied parole because of the nature of their crime or their criminal history. Instead, parole release would be solely determined by the parole applicant's success at eliminating the conditions, behaviors, and thinking that led to his or her arrest in the first place. Once a parole applicant can produce evidence of rehabilitation and readiness for a return to society without posing a threat, they should be released. And then it becomes the community's responsibility, with the assistance of the division of parole, to help them with their reintegration.

The first step in making our proposal a law is to find a sponsor in both houses of our legislature. The legislators in turn need to convince other legislators to support it. We have to find a sponsor, and we have to convince our own representatives to get on board..."

Sadly John MacKenzie was found dead in prison on the morning of Thursday, 4 August 2016.

John took full responsibility for his crime yet in spite of his genuine and heartfelt remorse, his complete rehabilitation, his spotless disciplinary record and his impressive accomplishments and achievements, he was denied parole ten times for the one thing he could not change — the nature of his crime.

John's case is used as an outstanding example by advocates working to restore justice and fairness to parole.

Rest in peace dear John. You are greatly loved and missed.

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NYS Parole Statute

Procedures for the conduct of the work of the New York State Board of Parole:

NYS Parole Reform Campaign

Working to change unfair and unjust parole policies through the Safe and Fair Evaluations (SAFE) Parole Act. Regular updates are given in Building Bridges, the monthly newsletter of the Prison Action Network.

Special dedications

Parole News is dedicated to the memory of Charles "Chill" Hamilton and David "Pancake" Ramos, who died in prison. Charles "Chill" Hamilton was committed to parole reform. He had a sincere desire to help men change their lives, achieve an education and work towards becoming productive, law-abiding, contributing members of society. David "Pancake" Ramos kept everyone laughing. He was always happy, despite being in prison.